> Why don't we just take the available housing stock and divide it between old and new residents in a rational manner? How on earth to "divide" it fairly thoug

> Why don't we just take the available housing stock and divide it between old and new residents in a rational manner? How on earth to "divide" it fairly though? This is exactly what the free market (attempts) to do, and might do better without rent control or overbearing zoning restrictions - allocate resources optimally according to demand. Want to live in a super fancy place in the middle of the city? Pay lots because it's a luxury. Can't afford that or don't want to? Live further out where there is plentiful cheap housing stock (I said no overbearing zoning restrictions remember!) and commute via a well resourced, publicly funded transport system (unfortunately the US doesn't do this well).